Carpet tool for drawing seam edges to-gether by single throw lever means



Jan. 24, 1967 J. L. SPANN CARPET TOOL FOR DRAWING SEAM EDGES TOGETHER BY SINGLE THROW LEVER MEANS Filed Aug. 19, 1965 United States Patent O CARPET TOOL FUR DRAWING SEAM EDGES T- GETHER BY SINGLE THROW LEVER MEANS .lames L. Spann, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Kinkead Industries Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 481,052 4 Claims. (Cl. 254-62) The present invention relates to carpet installation and more particularly to a tool for facilitating the making of a repair in the seam of an installed carpet.

When wall to wall carpeting is originally installed, it is usually stretched in both directions and 4anchored to concealed tack strips previously installed at the edges of the oor area. Because of wear and deterioration upon passage of time, or as a result of shrinkage after cleaning, it frequently happens that a seam somewhere in the middle of the carpet will pull apart and it is necessary to sew the carpet back together again. While it is possible to `detach the carpet from the tack strips and thereby release the tension and provide the necessary slack to etect a workmanlike repair, this requires laborious re-stret-ching of the carpet back into original position when the repair has been completed.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a carpet seam repair tool which is capable of releasing tension and providing slack in the region of the repair without -any necessity for disturbing the anchoring of the carpet at the tack strip. It is a related object of the invention to provide an improved tool for stretching and automatically holding two adjacent pieces of installed carpeting with complete release of tension and with the optimum amount of slack for as long as may be necessary to make the repair.

It is another object of the invention to provide a carpet seam repair tool which is easy to apply to the atected portion of the carpet, requiring only setting in place and the throwing of a single lever, permitting rapid progress along the length of the seam. It is yet another object to provide a compact seam repair tool which can be used by even a relatively inexperienced Icarpet repairman, which avoids any concentration of stress which might result in the tearing or injuring of the carpet backing, even where used with old carpeting which has lost its original strength. It is nonetheless an object to provide a carpet seam repair tool which may be used universally with any type or condition of carpeting and which permits the degree of takeup to be varied, if desired, at the will of the operator.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a carpet seam repair tool which provides an open and unobstructed eld for top sewing of the seam. And, while the invention is particularly useful for restoring seams which have given way under stress, the tool is equally useful in the sewing in of patches to replace areas which have become worn or damaged.

Finally it is an object to provide a carpet seam repair tool which is of simple, inexpensive construction and which may be manufactured at so reasonable a price as to be within the means of all carpet installation and repair technicians.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description and upon reference to the drawing in which:

FIGURE l shows the carpet seam repair tool in plan v1ew.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary section taken through one of the longitudinal members looking along the line 2 2 in FIG. l.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the tool shown in FIG. 1 with the carpet in dotalash outline.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view showing the linkage at the opposite end of the tool, looking along the line 4-4 in FIG. l.

FIGURE 5 is a view, at reduced scale, similar to FIG. 3 showing the manual lever thrown to its operating position.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a ratchet locking means which may be optionally employed.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to the particular embodiment set forth but intend to cover the various alternative and equivalent constructions included Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawing, there is shown a carpet seam repair tool 10 constructed in accordance with the invention. The tool includes a pair of longitudinal members 11, 12 having relatively flat surfaces 13, 14 on the underside which are presented toward the carpet. In the discussion which follows it will be assumed that the tool is placed on the carpet to straddle a seam, the seam being indicated at 15 and the two portions of the carpet, on the respective sides of the seam, being indicated at 16, 17.

For penetrating the carpet and engaging the fabric backing thereof, the longitudinal member 11 is provided with a set of sharpened, downwardly extending pins 21, and the longitudinal member 12 is provided with a corresponding set of pins 22. The pins in the two longitudinal members are angled mutually inward, from the vertical, by a shallow angle indicated at a in the drawing.

In accordance with the present invention bridge assemblies are provided joining the ends of the longitudinal members, together with means for drawing the longitudinal members horizontally toward one another while keeping them in parallel relation in order to relieve the carpet seam from tension and to provide sufficient slack to permit sewing of the seam. More specically in accordance with the invention linkages are provided at each of the ends of the longitudinal members together with a mechanical operator for operating both of the linkages simultaneously.

Thus at the right hand end of the device, shown in FIG. 3, there is a bridge in the form of a telescoping slide having a rst end member 31 and second end member 32 interconnected by a bar 33 which is preferably of round cross section and which is tted in bores 35, 36

' respectively. The bar 33 may be force-litted or otherwise secured in the member 31 but having a free telescoping connection with respect to the member 32. At the opposite end of the tool an identical bridge is provided formed of end members 41, 42 having a telescoping bar 43. It will be apparent that the telescoping slide connection serves to maintain the longitudinal members at and parallel to one ranother in all positions of adjustment.

For the purpose of drawing the longitudinal members 11, 12 toward one another, a linkage is provided at the right hand end consisting of a short link 51 horizontally pivoted to the end member 32 and a relatively longer link 52. The link 52 has a first horizontal pivot connection 53 with the rst link and a horizontal pivot connection 54 with end member 31. At the opposite end of the tool a substantially identical linkage is provided, including a short link 61 and long link 62 with points of pivoting 63, 64 respectively. In order to manually operate both linkages simultaneously, and to the same degree, the short y links 51, 61 are rigidly connected to opposite ends of a longitudinal shaft 65 which is journaled in the end members 32, 42 respectively. Conveniently, the ends of the shaft 65 may be keyed to the short links as by a key 66.

For the purpose of rocking the shaft 65 and the short links which are connected to it, the link 51 has an integral extension 67 terminating in a handle 68.

In use, the tool is placed on the carpet straddling the seam 15 which is to be repaired with the handle 1n a reference position, for example, extending vertically as shown. Downward pressure is applied to the tool, for example, by stepping on the lonigtudinal members 11, 12 to force the sharpened tips of the pins 21, 22 through the pile and into the carpet backing. The handle is then rocked backwardly, in the direction of the arrow, causing scissoring 4of the short and long links at each end of the tool and causing the longitudinal members, and the p1ns which they carry, to move relatively toward one another. This tends to bring the two portions 16, 17 of the carpet toward one another until the condition shown in FIG. 5 is achieved where it will be noted that slack exists at the seam position.

In .accordance with one of the aspects of the present invention, the linkage includes a toggle, and stop means are provided for maintaining the toggle in an overcenter position so that the longitudinal members are automatically clamped in position during the time that the repair is being made. In the present instance the st op is preferably in the form of a stop surface 70 on the link 51 which cooperates with a pin 71 fitted in the end member 31. FIG. 5 shows the tool in the clamped or working position with the links overcenter `and with the stops in engagement. It will be noted that the handle is swung downwardly, out of the way, in such working position.

One of the advantages of the construction discussed above is that the longitudinal members and bridges at the end thereof are in shallow picture frame configuration providing a free and uncluttered eld or working area for the repairman. The slack, indicated at a places the edges in convenient position for sewing, permitting use of a straight needle. In the event that the break, or incipient break, in the seam extends beyond the length of the tool, it is a simple matter to release the tool and clamp it in an adjacent position.

Since tension is equally applied to the carpet over a substantial length of seam, Concentrations of stress, which might result in tearing or damage, are avoided. Thus, as previously stated, the present tool is particularly well suited for use on carpeting which has been in place for a period of time and in which the strength of the backing has deteriorated.

The tool does not require expert manipulation and even limited experience suflices to accomplish a workmanlike job. Thus the novice repairman can be instructed, when confronted with an average repair job, to plant the tool with operating handle pointing straight up with the assurance that when the handle is swung down the displacement of the two sections of carpet will be within safe bounds. In special situations, where additional displacement is desired, for example, where there exists an actual gap between the two sections of the carpet, the operating handle may be rocked to a forward position, opposite to the direction of the arrow, before the tool is planted in place. The degree of throw may thus be tailored to the requirement, enabling the device to be used for all types and conditions of carpeting from heavy to light and from new to aged.

Whether or not the tips of the pins project beyond the backing material into the pad .appears to make very little difference. However, when working with carpet having an extremely short pile, effective projection of the pins may, if desired, be decreased by providing, under the longitudinal members 11, 12 a spacing strip of desired thickness having clearance holes for the pins.

Use of an overcenter toggle is particularly advantageous since the mechanical advantage which it provides increases progressively with the amount of displacement. Thus where the carpet has originally been pulled quite tight during installation, the force required to pull the edges of the carpet together will increase as the latter portion of i the stroke is approached and it is at this point that the toggle has maximum mechanical advantage.

However, while the overcenter toggle provides a simple and effective locking means, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to a toggle for this purpose, and, if desired, a ratchet connection may be provided between the relatively movable end members. For example, the end member 32 may be provided with a horizontal pawl 72 which engages a set of ratchet teeth 73 secured to the upper surface of the end member 32. Such an arrangement would permit the device to be locked independently of the position of the operating handle.

I claim as my invention:

1. A carpet seam repair tool for straddling the seam in a carpet during the repair thereof comprising, in combination, first and second longitudinal members laterally spaced from one another and each having on the underside generally at carpet-engaging surfaces, each longitudinal member having a set of sharpened, downwardlyprojecting pins spaced along its underside, said sets of pins being angled mutually inwardly from the vertical by a shallow angle, bridging members at the respective ends of the longitudinal members spaced to provide .an open rectangular working area and each including a horizontal telescoping slide, linkages associated with each of the slides for contracting the same, .a shaft extending parallel to one of the longitudinal members and connected at its ends to the respective linkages, and manual means for rocking the shaft so that the pins engaging the carpet on the opposite sides of the seam draw the carpet in a direction to close the seam, said linkages having means for locking the longitudinal members in fixed relation during the making of the repair, the longitudinal members being substantially elongated in the direction of the seam so that the force exerted by the pins is distributed over a substantial length of carpet material.

2. A carpet repair tool for straddling a seam in a carpet during the repair thereof comprising, in combination, first and second longitudinal members laterally spaced from one another and each having on the underside a generally at carpet engaging surface, each longitudinal member having a set of sharpened downwardly-projecting pins spaced along its underside, said sets of pins being .angled mutually inwardly from the vertical by a shallow angle, bridging means at the respective ends of the longitudinal members spaced to provide an open rectangular working Iare including linkages for adjusting the spacing of the respective ends of the longitudinal members, and means inc luding a manual operator for operating the two linkages simultaneously for drawing the longitudinal members inwardly in parallel relation to .a working position, and means for locking the linkages with the longitudinal members in such working position, the longitudinal members being substantially elongated in the direction of the seam so that the force exerted by the pins is distributed over a substantial length of carpet material.

3. A carpet seam repair tool for straddling the seam in a'carpet during the repair thereof, comprising, in combination, rst and second longitudinal members laterally spaced from one `another and having on the underside generally flat carpet-engaging surfaces, each longitudinal member having a set of sharpened downwardly projecting pins spaced along its underside, said sets of pins being angled mutually inwardly from the vertical by a shallow angle, bridging members including horizontal slides at the respective ends of the longitudinal members spaced to provide an open rectangular working area, each of said slides having an associated linkage for contracting the slides accompanying by movement of the longitudinal members to a working position, a manual operator connected to the linkages for operating the same simultaneously, said linkages each including a toggle movable overcenter by the manual operator for holding the longitudinal members in working position, the longitudinal members being substantially elongated in the direction of the seam so that the force exerted by the pins is distributed over a substantial length of carpet material.

4. A carpet seam repair tool for straddling a seam in a carpet during the repair thereof comprising, in combination, rst and second longitudinal members laterally spaced from one another and having on the underside generally ilat carpet engaging surfaces, each longitudinal member having a set of sharpened downwardly-projecting pins spaced along it underside, said sets of pins being angled mutually inwardly from the Vertical by a shallow angle, bridging members secured to the respective ends of the longitudinal members spaced to provide an open rectangular working area and each including a horizontal telescoping slide, one of the longitudinal members having a shaft journaled therein and extending the length thereof, short links rigidly secured to the ends of the shaft, long links pivoted to the ends of the short links and having their opposite ends pinned at the ends of the second longitudinal member, means including a manual operator for rocking the shaft to bring the longitudinal members and the sections of the carpet engaged thereby mutually in- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 324,546 8/1885 Fertig 254-52 420,462 2/ 1890 Morningstar 254-5 5 553,172 1/1896 Menary 254-55 849,997 4/ 1907 Helm 254-62 901,231 10/1908 Eby 254-60 2,358,436 9/ 1944 Baltlow 254-62 3,207,474 9/ 1965 Silva 254-57 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

20 MILTON s. MEHR, Examiner. 

2. A CARPET REPAIR TOOL FOR STRADDLING A SEAM IN A CARPET DURING THE REPAIR THEREOF COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, FIRST AND SECOND LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS LATERALLY SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER AND EACH HAVING ON THE UNDERSIDE A GENERALLY FLAT CARPET ENGAGING SURFACE, EACH LONGITUDINAL MEMBER HAVING A SET OF SHARPENED DOWNWARDLY-PROJECTING PINS SPACED ALONG ITS UNDERSIDE, SAID SETS OF PINS BEING ANGLED MUTUALLY INWARDLY FROM THE VERTICAL BY A SHALLOW ANGLE, BRIDGING MEANS AT THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS SPACED TO PROVIDE AN OPEN RECTANGULAR WORKING ARE INCLUDING LINKAGES FOR ADJUSTING THE SPACING OF THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS, AND MEANS INCLUDING A MANUAL OPERATOR FOR OPERATING THE TWO LINKAGES SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR DRAWING THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS INWARDLY IN PARALLEL RELATION TO A WORKING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE LINKAGES WITH THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS IN SUCH WORKING POSITION, THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY ELONGATED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SEAM SO THAT THE FORCE EXERTED BY THE PINS IS DISTRIBUTED OVER A SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH OF CARPET MATERIAL. 